Interview

Fipadoc: “Amchilini” in Chad, Allamine Kader films a fascinating tradition

It's a very successful dive into rural Chad with Allamine Kader, presented at the International Documentary Film Festival in Biarritz, Fipadoc.

“ 

Amchilini 

” means “choose me”.

The Chadian director takes us to Boutefil, a village located northwest of the capital Ndjamena, at the edge of the desert.

Thanks to the magnificent images and unvarnished words, we discover this tradition supposed to keep misfortune away from the village.

The ceremony allows and obliges single women to choose a husband.

The chosen man cannot refuse, unless he pays a fine.

Interview.

“Amchilini, choose me”, a documentary by Chadian director Allamine Kader, presented at FIPADOC 2024. © jfhautin / Allamine Kader

By: Siegfried Forster Follow

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: The village in which your film takes place is like a character.

How did you find this village in the canton of Boutefil

?

Allamine Kader

:

The canton chief is a childhood friend.

I often went to this village for certain weekends.

I'm going there to chat, to exchange with the elders.

It was at this time that I learned the original and very particular history of the Amchilini which interested me a lot.

One thing led to another, I spoke with the canton chief to suggest making a film since it is part of our cultural heritage, which must be valued, preserved and immortalized so that the future generation at least knows that it is part of us, of our history.

It took almost four years of discussions, research, writing, rewriting to get to the point of shooting and making the film.

It's impressive to what extent the women and men of the villages of the canton speak freely about Amchilini, as if the camera did not exist

It's a story that touches everyone.

This is the story of traditional marriages where the woman is forced to choose a husband.

When the village finds itself in a really difficult situation, the wise ones, the marabouts, the village notables (force) single women to choose a husband.

We gave the floor to each party.

Women have always defended their positions.

With new technologies, the village woman is emancipating herself, taking her place in this patriarchal society.

Today, women's freedom and women's voice reach our most remote villages.

Everyone forgot the camera and defended their position.

Some consider the Amchilini as a blessing, a solution against misfortune, when there is no rain, when the animals die... For others, it is more of a cheap, cheap marriage.

What do you think is the goal or philosophy of Amchilini?

For many men, it is a way of perpetuating tradition, of preserving this cultural value.

For the wise, the marabouts, it is a way of asking God's blessing, so that the people can live in peace.

For them, God stopped the rain, caused the animals to die and so on.

The Amchilini is a kind of sacrifice to implore God's blessing.

But young women and girls see it as a way of demeaning women, since the dowry is cheaper.

And today, with the high cost of living, this symbolic dowry cannot suit a young bride.

But on the men's side, they find it normal, since the dowry is within everyone's reach and we can easily have two, three or four wives.

You are closely scrutinizing the Amchilini process with its organizing committee and very specific rules to respect: no women under 18;

the social hierarchy determines which woman can choose first, the amount of the fine to pay in the event of refusal, the price of the dowry… Is your goal to reveal the intimate functioning of this society?

Exactly.

It’s a company that belongs to me, that speaks to me.

This organization respects the rules established in a society to find good behavior for living together.

First, there is respect.

It is a Muslim area and people respect the principles of Islam.

Secondly, they also respect the rules established by the laws of the Republic: for example, a girl who is under 18 years old should not be given in marriage.

Third, they also respect tradition.

These three principles (combine) in a world where everyone finds their place.

This means that people do not have conflicts.

This is a way to preserve this history, because Amchilini is a dying tradition.

Before this 2023 ceremony, the last one was organized in the village in 1992.

The Amchilini provides that it is the woman who chooses her husband.

Can we speak of a feminist tradition for emancipated women?

I can say yes, since the ball is in the women's court.

It is women who must choose.

But it is also an obligation for any woman who does not have a husband and who lives within the village.

If she does not choose, she is fined to the extreme point where she will be completely rejected by society and the village.

So she is constrained.

And whether you are a man or a woman, you are really required to respect this rule established by the village.

This tradition is confronted with today's reality, that is to say, there were only 15 women candidates in front of more than 100 men who wanted to get married.

More and more women refuse to marry under the Amchilini regime.

There are also more and more divorced people.

And in the choice criteria, money trumps ethnicity.

Was the Amchilini initiative in 2023 a success

? 

For the film, we followed a reality.

We met around ten women who have chosen their husband.

Today, women are beginning to take their place within our societies.

This means that she is no longer obliged to respect certain rules, even if she has to pay a fine.

Women are rejecting some of our traditions.

You studied cinema in Senegal and Niger, but you were born in 1978 in Ndjamena, Chad, where you live and work.

Today, what does it mean to you to be a director?

Being a filmmaker is truly speaking out, being a witness to our history.

In Chad, we have a lot of stories.

We have a territory that is very rich in natural scenery.

So, there are a lot of stories to tell that will interest not only Chadians, but the whole world, as is already the case in quite a few festivals.

My wish is to promote this view of our society.

You are currently an advisor to the High Authority of Media and Audiovisual (HAMA) in Chad, after having been deputy director of programs on national television.

In addition, you are co-founder of the associations of cinema and audiovisual professionals in Chad.

In what situation is cinema in Chad today?

We are facing difficulties.

In Chad, there is no film school, no fine arts school.

There is no aid fund for cinema like in Senegal or Ivory Coast.

We don't even have movie theaters.

The only room, Le Normandie, has been closed for several years.

So, it's difficult to make films.

Otherwise, there are quite a few young people with ideas and projects.

I ask our leaders to really attach great importance to culture which can unite the people and generate a lot of activity and create jobs.

Has your film

Amchilini, choose me

, already been shown to the village and to the villagers who participated in the film?

We did the preview at the French Institute of Chad in Ndjamena and we invited the canton chief with some notables who really appreciated the film.

We plan to go to the village and do a screening in a month or two.

►

 FIPADOC, International Documentary Film Festival in Biarritz, from January 19 to 27, 2024

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